Tuesday, September 15, 2009

MLPA-MLW presents loon programs statewide. Our MLPA Board members, as well as many of our Loon Rangers and Area Coordinators, bring presentations to many groups, including schools, nature centers, libraries, lake associations, Audubon chapters and public and private events, and more. We can provide a presenter in your area and we would love to visit and share our knowledge and love for Michigan's loons! Please contact us at westhova@ferris.edu or michiganloons.yahoo.com.

Some of our programs are presented along with Wildlife Recovery Association, as we also present live birds that share the loons' habitat. Our loon mount, Mahng, also often accompanies us on presentations.

If you would like to learn more about loons, then you will surely enjoy the excellent DVD by MLPA-MLW's Jeff Lange, "The Uncommon Loon". This beautiful documentary biography of a loon family's season here in Michigan can be ordered for $24 from Jeff or from MLPA's Loon Mercantile. Email Jeff: uncommonloons@gmail.com or Arlene: westhova@ferris.edu. Please visit www.theuncommonloon.com to learn more and for a beautiful preview of this extraordinary film. Jeff is also happy to present programs to interested groups; please contact him for more information.

Upcoming Events

Upcoming Events: Visit us at some great upcoming 2013 Michigan events to learn more about loons and to shop our Loon Mercantile in person! We also welcome volunteers to help at these events. Please contact Arlene 231-598-0878.

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Loon Presentations:

***Information about MLPA/Michigan Loonwatch is also presented at our joint programs with Wildlife Recovery Association throughout the year. Learn more about loons and take home some looney reading!

** Details on upcoming events will be posted as soon as details are available.

Mission Statement of the MLPA

The Michigan Loon Preservation Association is a non-profit organization whose mission is to preserve the Common Loon as a breeding bird in Michigan through public education, research and the protection and management of loons and their habitat.

About Michigan Loonwatch

Michigan Loonwatch, formed in 1986 at the behest of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, is the field arm of the Michigan Loon Preservation Association, providing loon management, protection and registration. Our Loon Ranger Program, with over 200 Loon Rangers, provides for the day-to-day monitoring of loons statewide, protection of the birds, their young, and habitat on their lakes, and education to riparian owners and lake users. This network provides yearly data and information to help us to better know and understand how to direct our efforts for the benefit of our beautiful loons and Michigan's natural resources.

About Michigan Loon Preservation Association

MLPA was formed in 1987 to support Michigan Loonwatch. MLPA memberships, along with donations and grants, provide for the continuation of Michigan's only statewide loon monitoring and protection program. Our volunteer MLPA Board of Directors is made up of professional members, including several biologists. and oversees and advises MLW.

Support for Michigan Loonwatch and MLPA

Michigan Loonwatch and its Loon Ranger Program is supported by memberships and donations made to MLPA. These can be for the general fund or designated for Michigan Loonwatch, or for particular projects, such as the Loon Nestling Project which helps provide for Artificial Loon Nest Islands (ANI) and Informational Buoys to help protect nesting sites during the nesting period. Memberships begin at $10 and will go through 2013. For membership and donation information, please see the links to Michigan Loon Preservation Association below, or contact Luanne: jaruzel5@gmail.com.

Michigan Loon Preservation Association Links

Thank you, Loon Rangers!

3-1-2011: We have received a record number of Lake Reports this year from our Rangers and Coordinators! These reports help us to better know how to help the loons to be successful in their nesting and chick-rearing season on our Michigan lakes. We share this data and lake history information with state and federal agencies as we work together for our natural resources.

Our MI Loonwatch Program is continuing to grow at a steady rate, which is good news for our organization, but especially for the loons and for our main goal of protecting them in their natural habitat. We have just recently welcomed three new Area Coordinators and several new Loon Rangers, and are excited about the coming season as we await the Spring arrival of the beautiful birds we love so much!

If you wish to learn more about becoming a Loon Ranger and/or Area Coordinator; please contact us at "Loon Central" 989-828-6019.